Italy's leftist leader Renzi to be picked as youngest PM

As head of the Democratic Party, Mr Matteo Renzi engineered the ouster of his predecessor Enrico Letta - a member of his own party. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

ROME (AFP) - Italian leftist leader Matteo Renzi is to be nominated Italy's youngest-ever prime minister on Monday after a daring power grab that has been welcomed by investors but has left many Italians sceptical.

As head of the Democratic Party, Renzi engineered the ouster of his predecessor Enrico Letta - a member of his own party - accusing him of failing to live up to reform pledges in his stormy 10 months in government.

The 39-year-old will have to move quickly to form a new government once he gets the mandate from President Giorgio Napolitano as expected at 0930 GMT, and then deliver his promise to lead Italy "out of the quagmire".

The previous coalition of the Democratic Party, the centrists and the New Centre-Right party is expected to remain intact even though the leader of the latter, Angelino Alfano, has warned this is "not a given".